Five takeaways: Michigan football beats Bowling Green in sloppy win
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Bowling Green rolled into town for the third and final out-of-conference matchup of the season. The Falcons entered the game with a 1-1 record but got sent packing after putting up a formidable effort.
The game was sloppy in the first half. Michigan turned the ball over three times and failed to assert themselves as the superior team. Bowling Green was able to expose the Wolverine secondary and simply found a way to hang around for the first 30 minutes of clock time.
After some floundering, Michigan pulled away in the second half with a pair of turnovers of their own and put the game away comfortably.
Here are five takeaways from the win.
Blake Corum is BACK
J.J. McCarthy is mortal after all
For those keeping track, add Blake to the “hot” list, and McCarthy to the “not” list. J.J. had his share of NFL throws, but he played a big part in letting Bowling Green stick around with a trio of ugly interceptions.
McCarthy is a known gambler. He loves to play street ball and while it usually pays dividends, the failures are ugly. Saturday should serve as a reality check for a QB that seemingly could do no wrong through the first two games.
McCarthy posted a final stat line of 8-for-13, 143 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.
Tyler Morris should be on punt returns
I appreciate the job that Jake Thaw has done securely catching punts so far, but Morris needs to be the guy when we get to meaningful games. The sophomore flashed his playmaking ability last week, and put on another strong return this week. Michigan has historically gotten help from special teams in close games, and a timely punt return can change the momentum of a game.
In addition to being the best man for the job, getting Morris reps should be seen as a plus regardless. Yes, he will be playing a number of snaps at receiver, but learning to absorb the spotlight is critical for the development of next year’s likely WR1.
The Texas Christian Massacre II
Every Wolverine fan remembers the sleepless night that followed last year’s heartbreaking playoff loss to TCU. Uncharacteristic mistakes kept adding up and Michigan eventually dug a hole they could not climb out of.
Saturday’s game had a similar feel…but with a better ending. Interceptions, fumbles, and missed coverages made it a scarily close game at halftime. Though the Wolverines were able to overpower the Falcons in the end, a number of Big Ten opponents would not be so forgiving.
The Wolverines have not made a habit of repeating poor performances, but Saturday’s game looked like something from a maize and blue horror flick.
Depth is a strength
With the exception of boundary corner, Michigan might have two full squads ready for Power Five action. Keon Sabb and Quinten Johnson looked sharp at safety, the defensive line is a revolving door of razor blades, and UM’s offensive line is deeper than the Mariana trench. Nice.
Injuries are the easiest way for a team to lose their season. A few banged-up players at the wrong time can be the difference between a College Football Playoff berth and a “what if” season lost the history books. Michigan simply does not have the look of a team that needs a fully healthy squad to win.
